MARYLAND 4-H DIAMOND CLOVER

PROCESS

April Barczewski

http://extension.umd.edu/4-h/youth-families/awards-recognition

Diamond Clover Level 6-Plan & Report-Part 1

Part 1-Tasks:

Complete at least eight of the tasks and plan, organize, implement, conduct, promote and evaluate a major service-learning project. (Service-learning project does not count as one of the eight tasks you are required to complete)

Attend at least 60% of club business meetings

Serve as a 4-H club officer or chair committee

Lead a club/community service-learning project

Lead a club/community fundraiser

Provide leadership or teach at a local 4-H County/City activity/event

Participate in a 4-H communications event (ex: public speaking day, visual presentations workshop, etc.)

Participate in at least one state 4-H event

Participate in a national or international event representing 4-H

Help a younger 4-H member with their project or demonstration

Participate in a local 4-H County/City/cluster/regional/state overnight experiences, Maryland 4-H Congress or Issue Forums

Complete at least one 4-H project from a new project area (refer to project completion guidelines)

Part 2: Major Service Project

A major project is one that makes long-lasting benefits to the community, may involve community collaboration to accomplish, may take a year or longer to plan and complete. The Diamond Clover Project should make a difference in your community. This requires the 4-Her to complete a project that benefits their community. The 4-Her will submit a detailed plan that includes: description of the project, justification for the project, who will be recruited to help, a budget that states how funds will be obtained, projected timeline and any necessary approval letters from landowners, 4-H County/City, government, etc. The Diamond Clover Committee should consist of, but is not limited to at least three members including: 4-H Club Leaders, UME Volunteers, previous Diamond Clover winners, 4-H All Stars, and any persons actively involved with project. These committee members must be non-related to the Diamond Clover candidate. It is the candidate’s responsibility to contact people to serve as their committee members, not the responsibility of anyone else. The Local Committee, County/City 4-H Educator and State 4-H Program Leader must approve the plan before any work is started.

The Diamond Clover Service Project: This is not a community service project, it’s a service-learning project. (ex: collecting

food for a soup kitchen vs. starting a community soup kitchen)

Should make a difference in your community or fulfill a need in the community

Be a challenge that allows you to develop life skills (planning, organizing, follow through)

Should involve others in the community and develop community partnerships

Plan should include how to maintain the project to have lasting impact beyond just one day or one event

Should take time to develop a detailed plan, organize, implement, conduct, promote, evaluate and provide follow-up information of the success of the program

Should take at least an estimated 100 hours to implement and complete

The sky is your limit…use your creativity and imagination

Diamond Clover Samples:

Develop a Recycling Program at the County Fair or an area of need and plan for its sustainability

Initiate a River or Beach Cleanup and plan for its sustainability

Repair a local troubled youth facility, inside and out, including woodwork, painting and carpeting

Plant trees and place boulders in a local park to stop off-road vehicles from damaging grounds

4-H Diamond Clover Committee Members

Provide guidance throughout the process Meet regularly with 4-H member Review proposal and final report Help identify other adults to serve as resources

My Thoughts on the Diamond Clover Project

The Diamond Clover Project: •Should make a difference in your community or fulfill a need in the community•Be a challenge that allows you to develop life skills (planning, organizing, follow up)•Can involved others in the community•You should have a plan on how to maintain the project if it is continuing and should have lasting impact beyond just one day or a one time event •Should take you a long time to plan, organize, develop and follow through with…should not just take one day to complete. (Requires many hours to develop) •The sky is your limit….use your creativity and imagination•The Diamond Clover Project is your project (4-Hers) not your club leaders, parents, committee, or friends!!!Diamond Clover Award Recipient Past Samples:Past Samples:•Fair Recycling Program•Smash for a Cure•4-H After-School Program for At-Risk ESOL Youth •Horse Assistance Program to work with Children of Need •River & Beach Cleanup•Blanket Drive for the local hospital for infants•Painting Quilts on a Barn for Countywide Driving tours Some Samples of Eagle Projects: •Landscaped the non-profits grounds, including shrubs, ground cover, and edging•Repaired fencing and outdoor facilities at a nursing home and organized a social function for the residents•Repaired a local troubled youth facility, inside and out, including woodwork, painting, carpeting•Collected children's books and toys and setup a play area at a public hospital neighborhood clinic.•Planted trees and placed boulders in a local park to stop off-road vehicles from damaging grounds•Conducted a bicycle safety program at a community summer camp for underprivileged children•Built a nature trail and erosion dams in a city park•Rebuilt and greatly improved a patio at a local troubled youth home

Potential Partnerships

Calvert Grange

Heating Improvements

Flooring Improvements

Cecil County Fair

Second Horse Show Judges Stand

New Dividers Between the Horse Show Rings

Livestock Barn Renovations

Benches for the Fairgrounds

Cecil County Farm Museum

Cecil County 4-H History Display

Tables, Chairs, Walls & Restroom Facilities

Memorabilia Display

Review Criteria

Deadlines

Diamond Level 6 plans (including the community service project plan) are due on September 1st to the Cecil County Extension Office and September 30th to the State 4-H Online Portal by the 4-H educator for completion the following year.

Maryland 4-H Diamond Clover Level 6 Online Portal

Timeline

• Meet with 4-H Educator in June to discuss plan & submit plan to educator by September 1st

• September 30th – STATE Deadline for Level 6 Proposal

• From 10/1-10/30 – Proposals are being reviewed/ suggestions are made / 4-Hers are given feedback to revise

• November 15th – revised Proposals are re-submitted for final approval.

• By the end of the year – Final Approval/denial is granted by the State 4-H Program Leader.

• January 1st – 4-Hers start on their APPROVED Proposal

• Project can take multiple years to complete

• Final Report of completed Diamond Clover Level 6 Due by September 30th

Local Committee, 4-H Educator and State 4-H Program Leader MUST approve plan prior to youth starting the Level Six Service Project.

The Diamond Clover Project is your project (4-Hers) not your club leaders, parents, committee,

or friends!!!